A report released Thursday by the House Democratic Livable Communities Task Force recognized that families living in auto-dependent neighborhoods spend significantly more money on transportation, with fewer dollars available for health care, food, and other family expenses.
In response, the two dozen representatives proposed a “Freedom from Oil” [PDF] agenda that would reduce oil use by providing families with more transportation choices, including cars that get 60 mpg by 2025.
Task force Chair Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), publicly released “Freedom from Oil” at a press conference joined by task force members Lois Capps (D-Calif.), Jim Moran (D-Va.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). They were joined by Daniel J. Weiss of the Center for American Progress (CAP) Action Fund and Jason Pavluchuk of the Association for Commuter Transportation.
The report notes that, on average, transportation is the second largest expense for households and that households located in neighborhoods that lack alternative transportation options are forced to spend significantly more to cover their transportation needs. Given limited U.S. oil reserves, ̶... Read more
